Practice Management Advisor

The Role

The Practice Management Advisor role sits within a specific practice area and works closely with the Partners and the associates with regard to the allocation of work and the day-to-day coordination of the practice.

The primary objectives of the role are:

Regional Resource Management:

Allocate work for fee-earners within the practice area.  Act as a trusted advisor to the Practice Area Management Team, comprising of the Regional Practice Area Leader (RPAL), Regional Business Manager (RBM), and other partners providing strategic advice about manpower planning and resource management.

Day to day responsibilities will include optimising the allocation of work and the deployment of lawyers to maximise profitability and support personal development. 

Practice Management:

Work closely with partners, functional team leaders, RBMs and General Manager, Singapore, to provide operational support to the practice and facilitate communication and processes.

Key Responsibilities

Resource Management:

• Optimise the allocation of work and the deployment of staff to maximise profitability
• Provide information and advice in respect of manpower planning and resourcing
• To identify appropriate assignments for senior associates and below incorporating the individuals’ preferences and development goals where possible
• Take ownership for and manage the work allocation tool, and ensure the integrity of the data included in the tool including annual leave and non-chargeable activities
• Where required, review leave requests to ensure adequate staffing
• Review and analyse forecast and actual utilisation and availability reports, highlighting trends and patterns for potential resourcing issues to the RBM with the aim of fully utilising existing staff within the regional offices and globally before resorting to external hires.
• Draft headcount approval business cases, secondment costings and documentation
• Ensure any  feedback obtained during the work allocation process on associates' performance  is passed on to the RBM and office HRMs

Practice Management:

• Support the RBM/GM in carrying out the business priorities for the practice and office.
• Organise team meetings as required. Preparing agendas, materials and minutes and progressing agreed action lists.
• Work with the Clifford Chance business professionals team to facilitate service delivery to the practice areas
• Provide assistance and support with ad hoc projects as directed by the RBM and GM.
• Establish and share best practice; as well as ensuring consistency of service levels.
• Ensure, in conjunction with the HR Manager/Senior HR Business Partner, that lawyers in the practice areas receive a documented annual appraisal and that career development plans are implemented and reviewed
• Ability to act as a sounding board for the associates in the practice group on work related issues.
• Facilitate and/ or deliver training sessions to fee-earners and business professionals to share best practices.

Your experience

Experience and qualifications required:

• Previous resource allocation experience preferably gained in a large commercial environment, ideally Professional Services; or
• A recruitment background with the desire to move in to the resource allocation and practice management field, with the right transferable skills and personable attributes to move in to this profession; or
• Previous practice/business co-ordination experience in a professional services firm.
• Tertiary qualifications in business or human resources.

Expected Skills and Personal Attributes:

• Ability to communicate with staff at all levels
• Customer service focus
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills.
• Proactive and self-directed, able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong influencing and problem solving skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong internal and external working relationships. 

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here